"Explain" questions — Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1)

90 questions · physics · View as Markdown

How to answer

WHAT + WHY. Every point paired with a because. Structure: X happens because Y. This causes Z because … Assessment Objective: AO2. Every "explain" answer on this spec is marked against exactly this pattern.

Sample questions

  1. A ski racer descends a snow-covered slope. As she moves down the slope, her gravitational potential energy decreases and…
  2. A plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth. After rubbing, the rod is found to carry a negative charge. Explain how the rod be…
  3. A steel spring is stretched by hanging weights from it. At first, the extension increases in proportion to the load. Whe…
  4. A spacecraft is travelling through deep space, far from any planet or star, with its engines switched off. A student cla…
  5. An artificial satellite is moved from a low orbit to a higher orbit around the Earth, whilst its orbital period remains …
  6. A radioactive isotope used in smoke detectors undergoes alpha decay. Explain why an alpha emitter with a long half-life …
  7. A bicycle dynamo generates electricity to power a front lamp. The dynamo works by rotating a permanent magnet inside a f…
  8. A cyclist travelling at high speed collides with a stationary bollard and comes to a sudden stop. Explain why a cyclist …

Related

▶ Practise these with instant AI marking (free) →